Decorative cover for women&#39;s shoes



Dec. 1965 J. s. LIEBMANN ETAL 3,221,421

DECORATIVE COVER FOR WOMEN'S SHOES Filed May 25. 1964 INVENTOR5. JACK s. LIEBMAMN Y RALPH MEMOLE HAROLD BARKOWIT ATTORNEX United States Patent G DECORATIVE COVER FOR WOMENS SHOES Jack S. Liebmann, 420 Lincoln Road, Suite 206, Miami Beach, Fla; Ralph Memole, 4911 Tyler St, Hollywood,

Fla.; and Harold Barkowitz, 312 Aledo Ave., Coral Gables, Fla.

Filed May 25, 1964, Ser. No. 369,711 Claims. (Cl. 362.5)

This invention relates generally to wearing apparel and is directed particularly to a decorative cover for womens shoes.

It is customary for fashionable women to maintain in their wardrobe many pairs of shoes for formal or semiformal wear, differing from one pair to the other for the most part only in color or fabric design. Predominant in style among these shoes is the classic pump with eggshell throat and long, slender heel. The particular shoes to be worn on any given occasion are selected to harmonize in color, or in fabric design, if fabric covered, with the remainder of the costume. It will be apparent that having at hand a large enough selection of such shoe to complement the many various costumes of a busy, smartly-dressed woman is not only an expensive undertaking, but also requires considerable storage space. Also to be considered is the fact that the shoes, while differing in wearing comfort from pair to pair, will ordinarily not be chosen for their comfortable fit, but for their modish appearance with the selected costume.

It is accordingly the principal object of this invention to provide an inexpensive reuseable shoe covering for womens shoes that completely changes the decorative appearance of a shoe.

It is another object of our invention to provide a flexible shoe covering of the above nature which is especially well suited to use with pumps for formal or semiformal wear, although not necessarily restricted to such shoes, and which fits over and completely covers, as a glove covers the hand, the outside of the upper, the heel and the sole, thereby, when applied to a shoe of the same size and same general style, simulating a new shoe of different decorative appearance.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a decorative shoe cover of the character above described which comprises a soft leather or leather-like sole member secured to which is a flexible fabric shoe upper member adapted to be stretched over the upper of a shoe, the sole member being integrally formed with a sole shank portion and a breasting member, and a flexible, fabric heel-covering portion secured to the back of the uppercovering member, and including pressure-sensitive adhesive means for removably securing the heelcovering portion about the outside of the heel, for removably securing the breasting member against the inside of the heel, and for removably securing marginal portions of the upper-covering member against marginal inside portions at the shoe opening.

Still another object is to provide a shoe cover of the character above described which will be inexpensive to manufacture, compactly foldable for easy storage, easy to apply and remove from a shoe, and sufiiciently durable to permit reuse many times before showing wear to such an extent as to be no longer serviceable.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawing. In the drawing, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a womans shoe before covering with a decorative shoe cover embodying the invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a decorative cover for w-omens shoes embodying the invention, shown separately,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the shoe cover of FIG. 2 applied over the shoe of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 taken along the line 44 thereof in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the method of securing marginal portions of the cover member at the shoe upper foot opening, and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows and illustrating 'how the heel covering members are secured in place.

Referring to the drawings, 10 in FIG. 1 designates, generally, a womans shoe, and FIG. 2 illustrates a decorative cover embodying the invention, designated generally by numeral 11, shown separately and before application to the shoe of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 illustrate the decorative cover of FIG. 2 applied to the shoe of FIG. 1, the same being fitted and secured in place by the method and means hereinafter described.

Referring now in detail to FIG. 2, the shoe cover 11 comprises a sole member 12, which is preferably of a supple leather such as calfskin having a thickness of about inch, integrally formed with a sole shank portion 13 the outer end of which is integrally formed with a breasting member 14. Attached against the upper side of the sole 12 and shank portion 13, is a flexible upper member 15, of such shape as to fit snugly over the shoe to be covered, a high-heeled pump as illustrated. by way of example in the drawings. The upper member 15, which is preferably fabricated of a cotton, satin, or silk-like or leather-like fabric having two dimensional stretch qualities, will be of a color and pattern to effect the desired change in external appearance of a shoe. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the upper member 15 can be secured against the top of the sole 12 by having lower marginal portions 16 of said upper member glued thereto by adhesive as indicated at 17. The breasting member 14 extending from the sole member 12 hangs free of the upper member 15, and is so shaped as to conform to the inside wall of the shoe heel to which it is to be applied. Adhesive means is provided for fitting the breasting member in place as hereinbelow more fully described, said means comprising a coating of pressure-sensitive adhesive 18 protected prior to use by a pull-away fabric or paper strip 19.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the shoe cover 11 further comprises a heel cover member 20 of stretchable fabric, which may be of the same or contrasting color or design with respect to that of the upper member 15, and which is secured to the underside of said upper member at the back thereof along a line of stitching 21 registering generally with the curved line of juncture at the heel seat of the shoe to which the cover is to be fitted, which heel seat juncture is indicated at 22 in FIG. 1. The heel cover member 20 is shaped to conform snugly against the back and sides of the heel of the shoe to which applied with a minimum of stretching in place. The inside of the heel cover member 20 is coated. with a pressure-sensitive adhesive 23 protected prior to use by a pull-away fabric or paper cover strip 24.

The flexible upper member 15 of the decorative cover 11 has a marginal portion 25 about the foot opening adapted to be folded in over the rim of a shoe upper, as is illustrated in FIG. 4. Pressure sensitive means is provided for securing the marginal portion 25 in place, said means preferably comprising a length of tape 26 partially secured along and overlapping said marginal portion and having its inwardly-facing surface coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive 27, which surface is protectingly covered with a paper or fabric strip 28 before use. Preferably, the outer surface of the tape 26 is of a soft texture, such as felt, to present a comfortable surface to the foot. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the arcuate portions of the tape 26 are notched or darted as indicated at 29, to facilitate smooth attachment of the upper member 15 to a shoe. The protective strip 28 is preferably provided with a tab 30 to facilitate its removal.

In use, the decorative cover 11 will he slipped over the toe of the shoe and then pulled up at the back into form-fitting position over the back of the shoe with the shoe heel extending through the heel opening just rearward of the breasting member 14 of the sole member 12. The protective strip 24 Will then be pulled away from the heel cover member to permit said heel cover member to be smoothly stretched about the back of the shoe heel. As illustrated in FIG. 5, marginal side portions of the heel cover member 20 will be folded. in against the inside of the heel, after which the breasting member, its protective strip 19 first having been removed, will be smoothed in place over said marginal side portions to complete the covering of the heel. The marginal portion 25 at the top of decorative cover 11, after having removed the protective strip 28, will then be turned in over the rim at the shoe opening and pushed down and against the inside of the shoe, to secure it in place by means of the pressure sensitive adhesive 27, thereby completing the covering of the shoe.

If, in fitting the decorative cover to a shoe, it is found that the heel is so narrow or short that there is excess material in the heel cover member 20, it can readily be trimmed at the lower end and at the marginal side portions, as required, to provide a perfect fit.

Removal is effected simply by carefully pulling away the adhesive portions of the cover at the heel and the upper of the shoe and slipping the cover off. The adhe sive covering tapes can then be replaced and the cover compactly folded for storage until reuse.

While we have illustrated and described herein only one form in which our invention can conveniently be embodied in practice, this form is presented by way of example only and not in a limiting sense. The invention, in brief, comprises all the embodiments and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a decorative cover for a womans shoe of the type having a sole, a projecting heel and an upper having a rim defining a foot opening, the combination comprising, a flexible upper member shaped to conform to the outer surface of the upper of a womans shoe when fitted thereon and having a toe end and a heel end and a foot opening, a flexible sole member in the shape of the sole of a womans shoe, said sole member being integrally formed with a sole shank portion, a heel breasting member integrally formed with said. sole shank portion and extending outwardly therefrom, said upper member being attached to said sole member and said sole shank portion to provide a pocket therewith for receiving a womans shoe, said upper member having an opening at the heel end for receiving in outwardly projecting relation thereto the heel of a womans shoe fitted in said pocket, at flexible heel member secured to the heel end of said upper member and projecting outwardly at the back of said heel opening, means for securing said heel member in conforming relation against the back and sides of the heel of a womans shoe, means for securing said, breasting member against the inside front wall of the heel of a womans shoe, and means for securing a marginal portion about the foot opening of said upper member over the top of a shoe upper foot opening rim and against the inner marginal portion at the rim of the shoe.

2. A decorative cover for womens shoes as defined in claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

3. A decorative cover for womens shoes as defined in claim 1 wherein said securing means for said marginal portion about the foot opening of said upper member comprises a length of tape having a pressure-sensitive adhesive on the inside and a soft-textured surface on the outside.

4. In a decorative cover for a womans shoe of the type having a sole, a projecting heel and an upper having a rim defining a foot opening, the combination comprising, a flexible upper member shaped to conform to the outer surface of the upper of a womens shoe when fitted thereon and having a toe end and heel end and a foot opening, a flexible sole member in the shape of the sole of a womans shoe, said sole member being integrally formed with a sole shank portion, said upper member being attached to said sole member and said sole shank portion to provide a pocket therewith for receiving a womans shoe, said upper member having an opening at its heel end for receiving in outwardly projecting relation the heel of a womans shoe fitted in said pocket, and pressure sensitive adhesive means for securing a marginal portion at the foot opening of said upper member over the rim of the foot opening of a shoe and against an inner marginal portion of the shoe for retaining the shoe cover in place on the shoe.

5. A decorative cover for womens shoes as defined in claim 4 wherein said pressure sensitive securing means comprises a length of tape having a pressure-sensitive adhesive on the inside and a soft-textured surface on the outside.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,013,700 9/1935 Savale 362.5 2,171,654 9/1939 Hinchlilf et al 367.2 X 2,447,284 8/1948 Sidnam et a1. 367.2 2,544,264 3/1951 Howard 367.2 2,742,718 4/1956 Benjamin 36--24.5 3,034,231 5/1962 Schwartz 36--7.2 3,119,191 1/1964 Vitzthum 36-2.5

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

FRANK I. COHEN, Examiner. 

1. IN A DECORATIVE COVER FOR A WOMANS SHOE OF THE TYPE HAVING A SOLE, A PROJECTING HEEL AND AN UPPER HAVING A RIM DEFINING A FOOT OPENING, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING, A FLEXIBLE UPPER MEMBER SHAPED TO CONFORM TO THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE UPPER OF A WOMAN''S SHOE WHEN FITTED THEREON AND HAVING A TOE END AND A HEEL END AND A FOOT OPENING, A FLEXIBLE SOLE MEMBER IN THE SHAPE OF THE SOLE OF A WOMAN''S SHOE, SAID SHOE MEMBER BEING INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH A SOLE SHANK PORTION, A HEEL BREASTING MEMBER INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH SAID SOLE SHANK PORTION AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID UPPER MEMBER BEING ATTACHED TO SAID SOLE MEMBER AND SAID SOLE SHANK PORTION TO PROVIDE A POCKET THEREWITH FOR RECEIVING A WOMAN''S SHOE, SAID UPPER MEMBER HAVING AN OPENING AT THE HEEL END FOR RECEIVING IN OUTWARDLY PROJECTING RELATION THERETO THE HEEL MEMBER SECURED TO FITTED IN SAID POCKET, A FLEXIBLE HEEL MEMBER SECURED TO THE HEEL END OF SAID UPPER MEMBER AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY AT THE BACK OF SAID HEEL OPENING, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID HEEL MEMBER IN CONFORMING RELATION AGAINST THE BACK AND SIDES OF THE HEEL OF A WOMAN''S SHOE, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID BREASTING MEMBER AGAINST THE INSIDE FRONT WALL OF THE HEEL OF A WOMAN''S SHOE, AND MEANS FOR SECURING A MARGINAL PORTION ABOUT THE FOOT OPENING OF SAID UPPER MEMBER OVER THE TOP OF A SHOE UPPER FOOT OPENING RIM AND AGAINST THE INNER MARGINAL PORTION AT THE RIM OF THE SHOE. 